Postirradiation Ageing of High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Implants

Abstract

The review summarizes literature data on degradation changes of UHMWPE prosthetic implants during ?-radiation sterilization, storage and implantation in human body. Extensive oxidative changes may reduce the resistance of implants to wear, provoke osteolysis and shorten clinical life of prostheses. Therefore the extent of oxidation must be characterized by special analytical methods.